Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-23
A Convention of Librarians.

Assembly inviting other States to join Cali
fornia in proposition to have their State
Librarians meet in Convention. The pur-
pose would appear to be a good one, and it
is believed that Mr.. Spofford, the Librarian
of Congress for so many years, would at
tend and give the Convention the benefit of
his long experience. 1t appears that State
libraries are prevented from being all they
should because of want of uniformity of
administration. Thus it may be news to
most, that only a few State libraries, which
of all others should contain such matters,
receive the official reports of commissions
and advisory State bodies. This is due to
absence of laws for exchange. For in
stance, the valuable reports of the New
York Railroad Commission cannot be
found in our State Library, and probably
the reports of our own Railroad Commits
sion cannot be examined III the library at
Albany, simply because, while the Com
missions may exchange reports, there is no
regulation for placing them in State libra
ries. This exchange of official documents
between State libraries is, of course, essen
tial to. make them complete reference
libraries. A uniform system of exchanges it
is believed can be effected by the consulta-
ton and recommendation of those in
charge Of State libraries. Mr.. Wallis, of
the California library, has endeavored to
accomplish the desired end by correspond
ence, but this has been found to be tedious
and ineffective. The Librarian of the State
of Iowa, and of South Carolina, Ohio, and
some other States, have labored in the same
direction, but as yet with little success.
The exchange system can, it is believed, be
extended to foreign countries if union of
effort is made. No one State Library now
has complete exchange system with any
State or country. Some of the States do
not even provide for postage for distribu-
ton of pubic documents. 1t is greatly
desirable that all reports on irrigation,
pathological matters State asylums, State
scientific research State legislation, geo.
logical surveys, etc, should be found in
every State library. In most cases the
laws provide for forwarding of such docu-
ments to the Governors, Secre ari, s of State,
or other officials and only through the
courtesy of such can the libraries procure
these books. In response to inquiry on
this subject State Librarian Wallis writes
Publications of this character are not al
ways found in booksellers catalogues, and
are thereby. lost to the State libraries of
many of the States. State libraries should
be the repositories of all publications OF
this kind, and States should not compel
their Librarians las the State of California
does) to go a begging for the reports of
many CT the important societies and
commissioners-the Agricultural Society,
for instance.
1.-THE indexing of public documents,
throughout the entire Union. l am COM
PEELED to say, as a rule, is disgrace to the
intelligence of the age. Many persons who
have examined these excuses of indexes
for information, go away disguised, evil
IDENTIFY saying to themselves, That man
had better make another index and then
die | learn by correspondence that State
Librarians take this matter to heart, for
the abuse they have received from those
using the libraries, and should they ever
have an opportunity to meet in conference
the appeal they will send TO every Legis-
lature, demanding that competent men be
provided for the important work of index
ing, will be certainly needed.
They will also ask that each State pass
law making it misdemeanor for anyone
publishing a report or book for State,
without either making its title page or ex-
aiming it before publication, or to permit
the printer to prepare the title-page in total
ignorance Ct its contents, as is so largely
the custom now. AS for myself, | have
seen enough, and TOO much, of deceptive
title-pages from printers. This proposed
conference, of which you inquire, will no
doubt labor to establish uniform system
of binding of books for Libraries. If it |
meets with success, this item alone will
save the State libraries many thousands of
dollars yearly as the experience of many
eminent librarians and book men of the |
world has proven the injurious effects
which the lighting and heating of libraries
have upon certain bindings, and the proper
buildings for libraries, shelving, DISPOSE
ZION of duplicates, catalogiHg, appropria-
tons and many other important matters Of
reform will doubtless be considered An
Interchange of views between librarians
upon these and kindred topics, including
library administration, will no doubt make |
the State libraries repositories of reference
works and of information pertaining to the
industries and resources of the States, and
of standard works of literature and sci
ence, rather than OF novels. the ephemeral
literature and improbable classes OF books,
too many of which they now contain TO the
exclusion of more valuable works"
II may be added that such convention
would probably result in the discovery that
Libraries are much imposed upon by pub
fishers and syndicates of publishers, and
that economy may be conserved in direc-
tons now scarcely possible, If those in
charge of State libraries once Compare
notes. The best system of cataloguinC is a
matter of debate, and in such convention
would be most interesting topic for de
bate and comparison of views. The
American Library Association which holds
annual sessions, does not include in its de-
hberations State libraries, but only private
and society collections, but TO all such il
has been an aid, and for them has conserved
great economy. SUCH convention at most
could cost only the transportation fees Of
librarians, and il wonld probably, 50 far as
that is concerned. prove >an. economic out
lay.
Goethes house in Frankfort is now Wis
tied by all tourists who pass through that
city. Among the recent curiosities stored
!